Application Guide
How to Apply for Legal Intern, Program for Animals
at Mercy for Animals
🏢 About Mercy for Animals
Mercy for Animals is a global nonprofit dedicated to ending factory farming and preventing cruelty to farmed animals. They combine undercover investigations, corporate campaigns, and legal advocacy to create systemic change, making it a unique and impactful place for those passionate about animal law and justice.
About This Role
As a Legal Intern, you will directly support the legal team in advancing farmed animal protection through research, drafting legal documents, and reviewing evidence. This role offers hands-on experience in high-impact litigation and policy work, allowing you to contribute to meaningful change in the legal landscape for animals.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might involve researching state and federal regulations on animal agriculture, drafting legal memos to support campaign strategies, and reviewing evidence from investigations. You'll also assist with corporate governance tasks and attend team meetings to discuss ongoing litigation and policy projects, all from the comfort of your remote workspace.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Mercy for Animals Is Looking For
- A current law student or recent graduate with a strong interest in animal law, environmental law, or public interest law.
- Excellent legal research and writing skills, with the ability to analyze complex statutes and regulations.
- Detail-oriented and meticulous, especially when handling sensitive evidence like undercover footage.
- Self-motivated and able to work remotely, managing multiple tasks and deadlines effectively.
📝 Tips for Applying to Mercy for Animals
Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight any coursework, clinics, or volunteer work related to animal law, environmental law, or nonprofit legal work.
In your cover letter, specifically mention why you want to work at Mercy for Animals and how your skills align with their mission to protect farmed animals.
If you have any experience with policy research, legislative analysis, or drafting legal memos, provide concrete examples in your application.
Since the role involves reviewing undercover footage, demonstrate your ability to handle sensitive and potentially distressing material with professionalism and composure.
Proofread your application materials thoroughly, but also ensure you've addressed the specific job duties listed, such as corporate governance and nonprofit compliance.
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
["Express your passion for animal welfare and your commitment to Mercy for Animals' mission.", 'Highlight your legal research and writing experience, especially any projects related to animal protection, policy, or litigation.', 'Mention your ability to work independently in a remote setting and manage confidential information.', 'Show enthusiasm for gaining diverse legal advocacy experience, from campaigns to corporate governance.']
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Review Mercy for Animals' website to understand their mission, recent campaigns, and legal victories.
- → Look into their current litigation and policy initiatives, such as farmed animal protection laws or corporate commitments.
- → Check their blog or newsroom for recent updates on undercover investigations and advocacy efforts.
- → Familiarize yourself with the legal landscape for farmed animals, including key federal and state laws.
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Submitting a generic cover letter that doesn't mention Mercy for Animals or farmed animal issues.
- Overlooking the requirement to review undercover footage; be prepared to discuss your ability to handle sensitive content.
- Not demonstrating any prior interest in animal protection, which might suggest you're just looking for any legal internship.
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!
Ready to Apply?
Good luck with your application to Mercy for Animals!